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JOSEPH F. EMMERTH A LOOK AT FAMILY LAW OF SULLIVAN TAYLOR & GUMINA, P.C.
AUG 2017
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THE SPECTER LOOMS
Paying for College After Divorce
August isn’t just a hot month, it’s also a month that can heat up your divorce in a bad way. Inside this newsletter we talk about back-to- school spending, a multibillion-dollar industry that puts the strain on already-strained parenting agreements. But in this space, my letter to all of you, I want to discuss another August divorce issue — college! The worst-case scenario is not having a plan when your child starts college and ending up with a huge burden that you didn’t anticipate having to pay, especially if the court orders that burden upon you. If you have a high schooler who graduated a few months ago, I hope you already have a plan for who will pay for college expenses if they’re headed off to an institution of higher education this fall. But even if college is a few years down the road, you need to start thinking (and talking) about it now. Most divorced parents kick the “college issue” down the road, which doesn’t make sense. College
expenses. Have your attorney file the appropriate motion and get the ball rolling as soon as you can.
is expensive, it lasts for years, and there’s not always a clear way to delineate who will pay for what. For starters, I highly recommend that however you split the financial burden between yourself and your ex-spouse, you make your child responsible for some of the financial expenses. Not only will this make them more accountable for their performance in school (you don’t want to split the cost of 5 years of partying), it will
COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE, IT LASTS FOR YEARS, AND THERE’S NOT ALWAYS A CLEAR WAY TO DELINEATE WHO WILL PAY FOR WHAT.
If you’re going through a divorce at the moment, don’t kick the college issue down the road. The best outcome for everyone involved is for you to know what your burden will be years ahead so you have plenty of time to prepare. And
also ease some of the strain that you and your ex-spouse feel when deciding who covers the rest. Of course, this decision in and of itself might be contentious. It’s unlikely that your child will love the idea of sharing in the cost of their education, and their other parent may agree with them.
if you’ve been dodging the issue already, stop doing so. You faced up to all kinds of issues during your divorce. Now’s the time to take care of this one. - Joseph Emmerth
If that happens, or you’re unable to reach an agreement by yourselves for other reasons, it’s time to have a court portion out the
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FAMILY GAME NIGHT: TEEN EDITION
How to Plan Game Night With Teenagers
Game night was once the best strategy for getting the family together for a night of bonding, but it can be hard to interest kids in a game of Monopoly today. Luckily, there are new games out there that can get even the most angst-filled teen to put down their phone.
draws a character, and everyone works together to determine who the other characters are and how you should complete each assignment. Your actions determine if the Resistance succeeds or if the Empire’s tyranny continues. Hold your cards close, though. You never know who might be the spy hiding in your ranks.
MUNCHKIN Players: 3–6 Play Time: 60–120 minutes
BOSS MONSTER Players: 2–4 Play Time: 20 minutes
Inspired by classic dungeon crawlers, your family will take turns entering levels on the game board to fight monsters and collect loot, powering up your characters along the way. The first person to level 10 wins! But watch your back. Other players can swoop in and make your quest more challenging. Your Kneepads of Allure won’t do much good when that level-one Maul Rat is suddenly a level-20 Plutonium Dragon.
Much like Munchkin, Boss Monster recreates the old-school dungeon crawler atmosphere, but with a twist. Rather than taking on the role of a brave adventurer, YOU are the evil dungeon boss. Use cards to build a better, deadlier dungeon than the rest of your family. Combine deadly monsters, trap- filled rooms, and enticing treasure to lure heroes into your dungeon and to their doom. The first one to defeat 10 heroes proves they are the ultimate Boss!
RESISTANCE Players: 5–10 Play Time: 30 minutes
An evil empire controls the world, and your mission is to destroy their bases and liberate the people! Each player
Whatever game you choose, there’s really only one secret to a great game night: Have fun! Oh, and don’t forget the snacks.
WHO PAYS FOR ‘BACK TO SCHOOL?’
School is starting soon, and that means a $25.7 billion industry (according to the National Retail Federation) is about to have an impact on your divorce situation. Back-to-school expenses average over $600 per child nationwide. We’re talking about school supplies, clothes, enrollment fees, tuition (for private schools), sports or club equipment and fees, field trip expenses, and more. And that leaves divorced parents with one question: Who’s going to pay for what?
can work this out together. If you haven’t done so already, and a mutually agreeable result isn’t possible in the near future, then you will have to do the math and decide if the issue is worth going back to court or mediation to resolve. You and your ex-spouse are certainly entitled to buy things for the children that they will utilize at your respective residences (i.e., things that will not get transferred back and forth between residences). You can also elect to simply split the expenses down the middle, if your ex-spouse agrees to do so. That can mean each parent buys certain items, with the understanding that the items will move with the child and the other parent won’t have to purchase those specific things. If you’re in this situation and aren’t sure what you are legally required to contribute, or how you’re legally required to do so, you need to speak with your attorney and get clarity. Back-to-school expenses are not cheap, and it’s in your child’s best interest that they’re taken care of promptly and without rancor.
To answer that question, we first look at court-ordered support and other agreements. Many times, your divorce decree or your parenting agreement gives concrete guidance, but not always. In the absence of that guidance, it’s best if you and your former spouse
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A PARENTING PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOUR FAMILY
The process of divorce for couples with children is a complex one. Parents must decide how they will split time with their children and make important decisions about their child’s life. This is known as the allocation of parental responsibilities, and when approached with the wrong mindset, it can turn into a contentious and bitter legal battlefield. Research has shown that families fare better if they develop their own parenting plan instead of letting a judge hash it out. The following will help you understand how to successfully create yours.
can minimize the change, the better your child is likely to adjust. Give your child time to spend with each of you and ensure that the time is not full of underhanded comments, parental competition, or continued arguments. Parents who develop their own parenting plan can pick and choose what works best for them and their family. They can “bird nest,” which keeps the children in their family home. Parents alternate in and out, according to their parenting schedule. They can co-parent, which could be set up in almost any way that directly benefits the child and ensures time with each parent. Or, if they are unable to get along, they could choose a parallel parenting plan, which limits parental contact to minimize conflict. Whatever parenting plan you choose, remember that the decision is based on what is best for your child. Arguments, bitterness, and contention need to be minimized. The relationship with each parent needs to be respected. And the goal should be to successfully raise a happy, healthy child. If you want help with your plan, or just more information, we can help. We can protect the interests of your children and ensure that you and your spouse are aware of all options on the table.
It’s important that your plan gives the child time with each parent. Children caught in the middle of divorce love both parents and want to spend time with each of them. The more you and your spouse
HAVE A LAUGH!
Recipe inspired by seriouseats.com.
GRILLED MEXICAN STREET CORN
Make the most of these remaining summer weeks and take dinner outside to the grill! You don’t need to visit the fair for this delicious, classic street food.
• ¼ cup mayonnaise • ¼ cup sour cream • ½ cup finely crumbled feta cheese • ½ teaspoon chili powder INGREDIENTS
• 1 medium clove garlic, minced • ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
• 4 ears corn, shucked • 1 lime, cut into wedges
DIRECTIONS
1. Set burners of gas grill to high heat and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. 2. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, cheese, chili powder, garlic, and cilantro in large bowl. Stir until well-combined and set aside. 3. Place corn on hot grill, rotating occasionally. Grill until cooked
through and charred in spots on all sides, for about 8 minutes.
4. Transfer corn to bowl with
cheese mixture and use large spoon to evenly coat each ear on all sides. Sprinkle with extra cheese and chili powder and serve immediately with lime wedges.
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JOSEPH F. EMMERTH OF SULLIVAN TAYLOR & GUMINA, P.C.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
630-665-7676 | www.stglawfirm.com Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm
1250 E. Diehl Rd., Suite 400 Naperville, IL 60563
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Who Will Pay for College? PAGE 1
Plan Game Night With Teenagers PAGE 2 Who Pays for ‘Back to School?’ PAGE 2 A Parenting Plan That Works for Your Family PAGE 3
Grilled Mexican Street Corn PAGE 3
Apps for Learning a Second Language PAGE 4
THE ROSETTA PHONE Language-Learning Apps for Everyday Life
BUSUU Along with writing and grammar exercises, as well as flashcards and quizzes, students can communicate with any of the 60 million other users across the globe through audio recordings. Users can get help with pronunciation and find answers to questions from native speakers with firsthand knowledge. An independent study conducted by City University of New York determined 22.5 hours of busuu Premium offered the same level of knowledge and experience as a semester in a college-level language course. BABBLE Using speech recognition technology, the Babble app really focuses on helping students get their pronunciation correct right from the start. Rather than overwhelming students with grammar rules, vocabulary comes first, with students learning grammar as they go. Babble offers more customization in its lesson plans, meaning you can focus on the vocabulary that’s relevant to you and your current needs. Whether you need to learn a new language for travel, work, or just for fun, apps like these can help turn you into a real multilingual logophile.
It’s said the best way to learn a new language is to be fully immersed in another country. Unfortunately, most of us need to be at work on Monday. So, if taking an extended trip for an immersive language lesson is out of the question, consider one of these language-learning apps, perfect for learning around your 9-to-5.
DUOLINGO Learn a new language on your own time with Duolingo. This app lets you select your lesson intensity based on how much time you’re able to dedicate to each session and can be adjusted at any time. Lessons can range from 5–25 minutes, meaning you can be learning a new language during your lunch break! Additionally, Duolingo blends video game aspects into the learning, awarding students with experience and providing support and encouragement as you advance through the lessons.
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